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SEC Media Days: Mike Slive kicks off the event

With exactly one month until its launch, the SEC Network was the main topic of discussion in Hoover. Commissioner Slive provides an update as to where the conference stands with different networks who haven't signed on. (Video Courtney Cronin/TCL).

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SEC Media Days 2014 are officially underway. The conference's commissioner, Mike Slive, addressed the media on Monday and handed the baton to the 14 teams in the SEC.

Slive didn't say anything unexpected but dropped a whole bunch of names. He quoted Dwight Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali. He also talked about the 48th anniversary of Hank Aaron hitting his 500th home run -- the same day of wedding anniversary.

After taking a moment to say "Happy Anniversary" to his wife, Slive's address shifted toward business.

He touched on the SEC Network and said "there are ongoing and significant" conversations with television providers. That's likely aimed at DirecTV. Slive patted the network on the back for agreements with Dish Network, Cox and AT&T U-Verse.

Slive continued with the humble brags when talking about the success of the SEC across all of the league's sports. He singled out the big three -- football, basketball and baseball.

Slive was proud of moving the Sugar Bowl to a prime time spot after the Rose Bowl. He showed excitement for the new college football playoff.

Slive then became more stern when talking about autonomy of the five power conferences. He expressed his belief of the importance of allowing cash cows like the SEC to be able to govern itself.

Slive's comments led into Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. Florida and Vanderbilt will follow the Tigers in day one. Mississippi State will take the podium on Tuesday. Ole Miss is up on Thursday.

Mississippi State University beat reporter:
My journey to The Clarion-Ledger began in Millbury, Massachusetts, where I was born and raised. Apparently, there's video evidence that shows me dropping my R's but I lost that habit at Syracuse University. &nbsp;I spent two more years in Central New York with The Citizen, before working in Upstate New York for a year with the Post-Star.&nbsp;<br /><br />I moved west in 2012 to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to work at the Gazette and KCRG-TV. I played catch with my dad at the Field of Dreams and bought a moto-meter from the American Pickers.&nbsp;<br /><br />I've covered Mississippi State since 2013, writing about a College World Series finals, an Orange Bowl and the football program's rise to No. 1.